Housing Authority members seek HOS relaunch for less well-off
A subsidised housing scheme which the government scrapped in 2002 amid pressure from private developers may be revived in what is seen as a policy U-turn by the administration.
Some members of the Housing Authority, which advises the administration on public housing policies, are pushing for the relaunch of the authority's Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) to build affordable accommodation for sale to the less well-off.
At a meeting yesterday to discuss the authority's development plan, many members were satisfied that the sales of HOS flats would be a stable source of revenue.
They said the sales could also allow more public rental flats to be vacated for those on the waiting list. At present, families may have to wait about two years for public rental flats. About 30 members attended the meeting yesterday, and almost half spoke on a possible relaunch of the scheme. They were satisfied that annual sales of up to 5,000 HOS flats would not have any negative impact on the private housing market.
One member, Wong Kwun, said afterwards that he detected a change in the government's position.